Systems and methods for producing clip-ons for a primary eyewear

• US 8,340,802 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zvi Feldman
• Original Assignee: Zvi Feldman
• Inventors: Feldman, Zvi
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTSON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/450,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 700/97, 700/98, 700/117, 700/211, 359/455, 351/44, 351/41, 351/47, 351/159, 351/163, 351/177, 351/178
• US Class Current: 700/117
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 9/144 the spectacles being used as a template
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 9/148 electrically, e.g. numerically, controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 13/003 Measuring during assembly or fitting of spectacles
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 9/04 by fitting over or clamping on
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31205 Remote transmission of measured values from site, local to host
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32022 Ordering, remote ordering, enter article and operations needed, create jobfile
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36369 Measuring object, spectacle glass, to derive position data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45175 Glasses, spectacles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method for providing data regarding a given primary eyewear to a remote data processing center where the data is processed to yield production instructions for producing a clip-on for the primary eyewear. The production instructions are provided to one or more remote production units. Preferably, the site providing data regarding the primary eyewear and the site for producing the secondary eyewear object are the same site.

Claims

1. A method for providing data regarding primary eyewear (“

primary-eyewear-data”

) to a remote data processing center, where said primary-eyewear-data is processed and thereby generating production instructions for producing a clip-on for said primary eyewear, wherein said production instructions are provided to one or more remote production units, the method comprising;

(a) scanning said primary eyewear, thereby obtaining data defining the shape and size of said primary eyewear suitable for obtaining therefrom at least one geometric characteristic of said primary eyewear;

(b) providing to said processing center reference data associated with the primary eyewear, said reference data being representative of at least one reference dimension;

(c) transmitting said reference data to said processing center;

(d) generating at said processing center production instruction data for producing said clip-on based on said data defining the shape and size of said primary eyewear and said reference data; and

(e) transmitting said production instruction data for producing said clip-on to said remote production unit,

wherein said data defining the shape and size of said primary eyewear is selected from the group including;

one or more front view images, one or more segments outlining the outer contour of said frame, other data representing the frame local thickness, other data representing the curvature of the surfaces of a lens of said primary eyewear; and

wherein said generating said production instruction data at said processing center comprises the steps of;

(a) providing a processing unit;

(b) providing a database of eyewear frames;

(c) providing at least one contour data segment, wherein said contour data segment defines at least one dimension of said frame of said primary eyewear, wherein said dimension is selected from the group consisting of;

the height of said frame, the width of said frame, the width of the frame of a lens of said primary eyewear;

(d) determining said dimension by said processing unit;

(e) matching the location, size and shape of said at least one contour data segment with a database of frames defined by frame size and shape, wherein the match of said at least one contour data segment with each frame is graded;

(f) computing a list of best matches in grading order, wherein said list length is delimited by a grade threshold, quantity of match, or any other method;

(g) selecting the best match;

(h) extracting form said eyewear database specific data needed for producing said clip-on, said specific producing data is selected from the group including;

cutting contours, attaching elements type, drilling size and location, bridge location and milling instruction for affixing elements for attaching said clip-on to said primary eyewear;

(i) manually editing data elements of said specific producing data selected from the group including;

attaching elements type, drilling size and location, bridge location and milling instruction for affixing elements for attaching said clip-on to said primary eyewear; and

(j) generating said production instruction data, wherein said instructions are selected from the group consisting of cutting instructions, attaching elements type, drilling instructions, milling instructions.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein said processing center including:

(a) a processing unit.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein said processing center further including:

(b) an eyewear database.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein said reference data, further includes data defining the distance between the lenses of said primary eyewear.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said production instruction data is provided as a computer file, readable by said remote production unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said data defining the shape and size of said primary eyewear, is selected from an eyewear database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said generating said production instruction data at said processing center comprises the steps of:

(a) providing an eyewear database;

(b) extracting form said eyewear database specific data needed for producing said clip-on, said specific producing data is selected from the group including;

cutting contours, attaching elements type, drilling size and location, bridge location and milling instruction for affixing elements for attaching said clip-on to said primary eyewear; and

(c) generating said production instruction data, wherein said instructions are selected from the group consisting of cutting instructions, attaching elements type, drilling instructions, milling instructions.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said generating said production instruction data at said processing center comprises the steps of:

(a) providing an eyewear database;

(b) extracting form said eyewear database specific data needed for producing said clip-on, said specific producing data is selected from the group including;

cutting contours, attaching elements type, drilling size and location, bridge location and milling instruction for affixing elements for attaching said clip-on to said primary eyewear;

(c) manually editing data elements of said specific producing data selected from the group including;

attaching elements type, drilling size and location, bridge location and milling instruction for affixing elements for attaching said clip-on to said primary eyewear, and

(d) generating said production instruction data, wherein said instructions are selected from the group consisting of cutting instructions, attaching elements type, drilling instructions, milling instructions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said scanning of said primary eyewear comprises the steps of:

(a) placing the eyewear for scanning;

(b) providing a moveable sensor capable of sensing spatial position, such as electronic stylus;

(c) moving said sensor along at least a portion of the external edge of the frame of said primary eyewear, thereby creating a contour data segment, wherein said contour data segment comprising location, size and shape data; and

(d) recording said contour segment location, size and shape data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein when more than one contour data segments are created, each contour data segment further comprises distance data from adjacent contour data segment.

11. The method of claim 9, further includes the step of providing data defining the distance between the lenses of said primary eyewear.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said data defining the distance between said lenses is obtained from said front view image of said primary eyewear.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said data defining the distance between said lenses is obtained from contour data segments operatively taken from each of said lenses, and wherein the distance between said two contour data segments is measured and recorded.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprises the step of providing data of other parts of said primary eyewear, wherein said parts are selected from the group including screws, a bridge and ornaments.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting of said reference data to said processing center is performed by external communication means selected from the group including:

electronic mail, computer network, facsimile machine, radio frequency (RF) devices such as cellular phones and Bluetooth, regular mail.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating said production instruction data at said processing center comprises the steps of:

(a) aligning said contour data segments with said front view image of said primary eyewear, wherein said alignment is performed by applying graphical processing manipulation tools on said front view image, said graphical processing is selected from the group of graphical actions including translation, scaling, rotation, skewing and any other graphical actions, thereby creating a non-distorted image of said primary eyewear,

(b) manually completing the external outline of said frame of said primary eyewear using said non-distorted image; and

(c) generating said production instruction data, wherein said instructions are selected from the group consisting of cutting instructions, attaching elements type, drilling instructions, milling instructions.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating said production instruction data at said processing center comprises the steps of:

(a) aligning said contour data segments with said front view image of said primary eyewear, wherein said alignment is performed by applying graphical processing manipulation tools on said front view image, said graphical processing is selected from the group of graphical actions including translation, scaling, rotation, skewing and any other graphical actions, thereby creating a non-distorted image of said primary eyewear,

(b) manually completing the external outline of said frame of said primary eyewear using said non-distorted image;

(c) manually adding production data selected from the group including drilling attaching elements type, size and location instruction, bridge location and milling instruction for affixing elements for attaching said clip-on to said primary eyewear; and

(d) generating said production instruction data, wherein said instructions are selected from the group consisting of cutting instructions, attaching elements type, drilling instructions, milling instructions.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting of said production instruction data to said remote production unit is performed by external communication means selected from the group including:

electronic mail, computer network, facsimile machine, radio frequency (RF) devices such as cellular phones and Bluetooth, regular mail.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said data defining the shape and size of said primary eyewear is adapted to be manipulated at least at said processing center so that said clip-on will be produced having shape and size adaptive to the shape, curvature and size of said primary eyewear.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said database of eyewear frames comprises eyewear frame entries of frames having one constant dimension and a scaling parameter associated with said dimension.

20. A method for editing scanned data of a primary eyewear for generating production instructions for a clip-on for said primary eyewear, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a scanning unit, wherein said scanning unit obtains data defining the shape and size of said primary eyewear suitable for obtaining therefrom at least one geometric characteristic of said primary eyewear; and

(b) providing a processing unit for processing said reference data associated with the primary eyewear and thereby generating production instructions of clip-on object for the primary eyewear, wherein said processing comprising the steps of;

i) providing a database of eyewear frames;

ii) providing at least one contour data segment, wherein said contour data segment defines at least one dimension of said frame of said primary eyewear, wherein said dimension is selected from the group consisting of;

the height of said frame, the width of said frame, the width of the frame of a lens of said primary eyewear,

iii) determining said dimension by said processing unit;

iv) matching the location, size and shape of said at least one contour data segment with a database of eyewear frames defined by frame size and shape, wherein the match of said at least one contour data segment with each frame is graded;

v) computing a list of best matches in grading order, wherein said list length is delimited by a grade threshold, quantity of match, or any other method; and

vi) selecting the best match.

21. The method as in claim 20, wherein said reference data, further includes data defining the distance between the lenses of said primary eyewear.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said database of eyewear frames comprises eyewear frame entries of frames having one constant dimension and a scaling parameter associated with said dimension.